Supplements in the News

Ireland—Taking
multivitamins could help improve the health of kidney disease patients
undergoing blood dialysis, according to new research from the University
of Ulster.

University
researchers teamed with the Western Health
and Social Care Trust to investigate the effect of taking a multivitamin
supplement on kidney function and nutrient status in dialysis patients in the
Trust over a 3-month period.

They
found that the multivitamin produced an increase in folate levels and
antioxidant enzymes that remove or limit oxidative damage, helping protect
membranes, including the heart. They also found that there was a reduction in
the production of homocysteine, a harmful amino acid that increases the risk
of cardiovascular disease.

Mary
Hannon-Fletcher, MD, from Ulster’s
School of Biomedical Sciences, who is leading
the study, said: "These improvements in status could be very beneficial
for hemodialysis patients who have a very restricted diet due to their kidney
disease. In addition, having to undergo frequent dialysis removes essential
antioxidants, vitamins, and trace elements, putting them at increased risk of
cardiovascular disease.”

The
research team, which also includes renal dietician Twyla Moffitt and renal
consultant Peter Garrett, MD, are seeking funding to extend this pilot study
to a larger number of patients for a longer duration of time.

This abstract was provided courtesy of Natural Products Industry Insider, published by Virgo Publishing Inc.